2000 Season Outlook

Sep 06, 2000

PLYMOUTH, N.H. - Facing the defending Little
East Conference champion and pre-season favorite in the opening
match, the Plymouth State College women's volleyball team makes its
2000 season debut this weekend in a round robin format, hosted by
the University of Southern Maine.

The Panthers will meet Western Connecticut in the opening match
Friday, Sept. 8, at 7 p.m., in Gorham, Maine, followed by LEC
encounters Saturday at 10 a.m. vs. Keene State and 12:30 p.m.
against host USM. PSC returns to Foley Gymnasium for the home
opener next Tuesday, Sept. 12, against Green Mountain College (7
p.m.)

Third-year head coach Moira Long welcomes back
a group of seven returnees from last year's team, including an
All-Little East Conference First Team selection. The 1999 squad
received the program's first-ever New England regional ranking last
September and finished with a 23-11 overall record. Not only does
PSC want to keep its streak of 20-win seasons alive, but is still
searching for the program's first post-season bid.

The Panthers, who finished 4-3 in Little East matches last
season and were eliminated in the LEC Tournament semi-finals, seek
a visit to the finals in 2000 and a shot at the automatic bid to
the NCAA Tournament. PSC was picked third in the LEC Coaches
Pre-season poll.

"We want to be in that top two of our conference," said Long.
"That's the next step as we progress towards a conference
championship."

2000 P.S.C. Volleyball Outlook

Although the Panthers lost four key seniors after the 1999
season, a foursome that were the building blocks for a program that
is only four years old, Long says that'll be no excuse for not
keeping the program on the upswing. In fact, Long says, look for
the Panthers to maintain the .724 winning percentage the first four
teams have achieved (W-92, L-35), including last season's 23-11
mark.

"Just because we lost four seniors isn't an excuse to have a
slide," says Long. "We have enough talent to maintain the tradition
those seniors started, and to build on it."

"I think offensively we should be very strong," says Long. "We
have more height than we've ever had. We have a lot of people who
have the ability to put the ball away. Blocking should be a
strength as well."

Leading the way for PSC should be sophomore outside hitter
Carin LaValley (Northfield, N.H.), a First Team
All-LEC pick last season, the first in school history. She set
several school records for kills, attack percentage, and service
aces, and is a dominant hitter. She showed her value by earning
All-Tournament honors several times last season.

While crediting the current make-up of the team, Long also
acknowledged the contributions of former Panthers Sarah
Goggin, Veronica Mulholland, Jill
Langis and Andrea Baretta.

"Leadership is where we're most affected," says Long. "When you
lose people like Sarah and Veronica, Jill and Andrea, the core of
our leadership, other people are going to have to step up. We have
the talent, but lack the experience at the college level."